Dear Editor,
The publicised report of physical abuse of a pupil by the Principal of PWA hopefully will open up the true story of what has been going on behind the scenes at that school for many, many years, because if there was one alleged incident, it finally confirms there have been many more.
I hope that when the Department of Education looks into this matter, it also takes the time to speak to the teachers and listen carefully and realise the facts. A teacher should have the right of privacy to report incidents and not be penalised. It is not the first time the Principal has abused her power, and not just concerning a pupil.
Now is the time. More parents and teachers need to continue to speak out to protect their children and pupils. A school is supposed to be a safe place, and it is ridiculous that a child still has no protection from a cruel world in exactly the environment where he/she is supposed to be encouraged to blossom, and not be physically intimidated by a figure of authority who is supposed to be educationally qualified and emotionally stable, and be able to display the proper reaction to a pupil's behaviour at any time.
And, despite considerable donations to the school over the years, it continues to be physically run down, with many hazardous areas where children can be physically hurt.
This is definitely another indication of some very bad management going on.
Overall, the situation is appalling, and hopefully, this time, the correct procedures are being taken to protect the pupils and staff from the further abuse of "power."
I am in total support of protecting pupils and teachers.
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
Last week I enlisted to get my Scuba Diving Certificate. I thought, "about time, shame on me living on the island so long, loving the ocean so much and not being certified."
Mind you I had dived previously but this was way back in 1981 as a fearless teenager. Wow, what difference 30 years makes! Talk about contrast - a funny tale nonetheless.
Arriving in Sint Maarten a few months shy of being 18, I decided to walk the beach at Great Bay, since dad lived there. Also, it was basically the area where most things were happening. Beautiful and pristine in those days, as you can well imagine.
One of the few hotels was Great Bay Hotel where they had a water sports facility which included diving.
A guy at the water sports spotted me and asked if I wanted to dive. "Fine," I said, "why not?" His name was Craig (who obviously had a hidden agenda).
So this is how it went then:
Craig strapped a tank on me with a regulator and pressure/depth gauge, a weight belt and of course mask, snorkel and fins. (Mind you, the tank was held by two straps over my shoulder and one around my waist). In the pool we went for ten minutes, out to the tender afterwards (while he handed me a shirt, no wetsuits in those days), dropped in backwards off the boat at the diving site and voila! I was diving! Easy as pie.
And this is how it went now:
Believe me, I'm not naïve and fully understood that scuba diving has evolved into a very sophisticated sport that covers all safety procedures as it well should. (Not anywhere near like in the movie "The Deep").
So off I went on Monday to Dive Safaris, with my heavy tome of literature to plow through. Lessons in the morning, the afternoon in the pool for three hours plus. We were taught all sorts of necessary diving skills, some of which were quite claustrophobic for me. Our instructor Mike was highly professional, extremely calm and patient. I was exhausted at the end of the day, all that info to process.
Day two we went diving in open water and I had a hard time to deal with all the gear and such remembering what to do. The second dive that day went thankfully much better.
On Wednesday we did our final two dives and it was spectacular. Being finally familiarized with my gadgets; you got it, easy as pie!
Also not forgetting I made new friends, the guys were great. And I bonded quickly with my dive buddy and another girl.
Shame, though, is that I remember how vividly beautiful and colourful diving was 30 years ago, lobsters, conch, untouched corals and a multitude of lovely fish.
For all of you who love the ocean, I highly recommend scuba diving. I had a wonderful three days. Intense, but absolutely fantastic. Thank you, guys, for giving me a new passion, you'll definitely see me again!
M.I.A. Roos
Dear Editor,
I was born and raised on St. Maarten, travelled to The Netherlands and successfully obtained my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and I have returned home to positively contribute to the island of St. Maarten.
However, for the last few months, my living conditions have only been deteriorating.
The Westin septic tank, placed by The Westin far away from The Westin, but next to the residential area of Dawn Beach Estates, has been (and is) making life unbearable.
This septic tank is approximately 50 metres (160 feet) away from my home – thus practically in my backyard.
Apart from the fact that it smells really bad and that the design is something I would have expected from a three-year-old, the noise levels produced are simply off the charts.
I have my windows and doors permanently shut, and the hurricane shutters rolled down at all times. Yet regardless of these measures, I constantly hear the noise in my home. I am even woken up at least three nights a week in the middle of the night.
Spending time outside in the yard is out of the question, because the terrible noise will instantly induce a migraine attack.
I don't do any barbeques or landscaping around the house anymore.
Simply put, I cannot even find peace in and around my own home. I am growing wearier and wearier by the day, which in turn negatively impacts my ability to positively contribute to the island.
Presently, I am seriously wondering if I have made the right choice by coming back to the island. How can I possibly recommend St. Maarten to any of my friends, who are still living abroad and thinking of returning as well, when such a basic need as normal living conditions cannot be guaranteed?
How much longer will I be forced to live like a caged animal before justice is served?
What is more important to the business community and Government? Having The Westin on the island, which, after promising to hire locals, has given all the good jobs to its own people? Having The Westin run by a management team with a clear "We don't care about St. Maarten" mentality? Or having St. Maarten youth with internationally-recognised top diplomas return to the island for a lifetime of dependable work?
Just remember: at the end of the day, The Westin can easily be replaced by, for example, a Hilton, but the passion and love of local youth for the island cannot be replaced.
It's about time we start putting our own people first as well.
I was born and raised on St. Maarten, travelled to The Netherlands and successfully obtained my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and I have returned home to positively contribute to the island of St. Maarten.
However, for the last few months, my living conditions have only been deteriorating.
The Westin septic tank, placed by The Westin far away from The Westin, but next to the residential area of Dawn Beach Estates, has been (and is) making life unbearable.
This septic tank is approximately 50 metres (160 feet) away from my home – thus practically in my backyard.
Apart from the fact that it smells really bad and that the design is something I would have expected from a three-year-old, the noise levels produced are simply off the charts.
I have my windows and doors permanently shut, and the hurricane shutters rolled down at all times. Yet regardless of these measures, I constantly hear the noise in my home. I am even woken up at least three nights a week in the middle of the night.
Spending time outside in the yard is out of the question, because the terrible noise will instantly induce a migraine attack.
I don't do any barbeques or landscaping around the house anymore.
Simply put, I cannot even find peace in and around my own home. I am growing wearier and wearier by the day, which in turn negatively impacts my ability to positively contribute to the island.
Presently, I am seriously wondering if I have made the right choice by coming back to the island. How can I possibly recommend St. Maarten to any of my friends, who are still living abroad and thinking of returning as well, when such a basic need as normal living conditions cannot be guaranteed?
How much longer will I be forced to live like a caged animal before justice is served?
What is more important to the business community and Government? Having The Westin on the island, which, after promising to hire locals, has given all the good jobs to its own people? Having The Westin run by a management team with a clear "We don't care about St. Maarten" mentality? Or having St. Maarten youth with internationally-recognised top diplomas return to the island for a lifetime of dependable work?
Just remember: at the end of the day, The Westin can easily be replaced by, for example, a Hilton, but the passion and love of local youth for the island cannot be replaced.
It's about time we start putting our own people first as well.
Dawn Beach Resident
Dear Editor,
The reports in the media regarding the Lt. Governor left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. The report pertains to the letter from the CFT that the Lt. Governor had in his possession from December 16 to February 5, before sending it to the members of the Island Council. He purposely withheld it from the members of the opposition in the council. I am quite sure that persons like myself would like to ask the Lt. Governor a few questions:
Was this done because of the election?
Did the members of the Executive Council instruct him not to distribute the letter?
Does this act of non-transparency and purposely withholding information from the elected representatives not go against all principals of good governance, integrity and impartiality?
I hope that this time he will take responsibility for his actions and not play the blame game.
Our Lt. Governor is also playing politics with a meeting requested by the Democratic Party faction in the Island Council, which he refused to entertain. I believe that, in his political fervour, he has not taken note of President Obama's strategy in reaching out to the Republicans, and of the fact that on Aruba, State Secretary Bijleveld-Schouten met with the ruling members of Government and with the opposition.
The Lt. Governor's partiality to the present government is so blatant that even the blind can see which side of the fence he is on. I hope due note is taken in The Hague of the partiality of the Lt. Governor, and that they are aware that every and any decision taken by them will be passed by him, whether it is in keeping with good governance or not. After all, is he not setting the bad example himself?
Guillaume Carty
Dear Editor:
I am delighted to see that someone apparently read my last letter and turned back on the lights on Prins Bernhard Bridge that were on during the election campaign. I was beginning to think we would have to wait until the next election. However, I still have to wonder why only two lights? Why not all of them?
And when will they get around to fixing the broken-down safety railings? Are they waiting for yet another vehicle to go crashing down into Fresh Pond?
This whole business reminds me of the old joke/riddle: How many (fill in the blank)s does it take to (fill in the blank)? In this case it would go: How many public Works personnel does it take to change a light bulb on Prins Bernhard Bridge?
Perhaps someone would like to offer an answer.
I am delighted to see that someone apparently read my last letter and turned back on the lights on Prins Bernhard Bridge that were on during the election campaign. I was beginning to think we would have to wait until the next election. However, I still have to wonder why only two lights? Why not all of them?
And when will they get around to fixing the broken-down safety railings? Are they waiting for yet another vehicle to go crashing down into Fresh Pond?
This whole business reminds me of the old joke/riddle: How many (fill in the blank)s does it take to (fill in the blank)? In this case it would go: How many public Works personnel does it take to change a light bulb on Prins Bernhard Bridge?
Perhaps someone would like to offer an answer.
Concerned motorist
